They report their experience during
the war…
I next entered a
Government office. We had several very enjoyable tea parties. I had intended to
become a land girl, a postwoman, and
a bus conductress by way of rounding off my career—but the Armistice
intervened! I clung to the office for many long months, but, alas, I was combed
out at last. Since then I've been looking for a job. Now then—your turn."
"There's
not so much promotion in mine," said Tommy regretfully, "and a great
deal less variety. I went out to France again, as you know. Then they sent me
to Mesopotamia, and I got wounded for the second time, and went into hospital
out there. Then I got stuck in Egypt till the Armistice happened, kicked my
heels there some time longer, and, as I told you, finally got demobbed. And, for ten long, exhausted months I've been job hunting! There
aren't any jobs! And, if there were, they wouldn't give 'em to me. What good am
I? What do I know about business? Nothing."
Tuppence nodded
gloomily.
"What about
the colonies?" she suggested.
Tommy shook his
head.
"I
shouldn't like the colonies—and I'm perfectly certain they wouldn't like
me!"
"Rich
relations?"
Again Tommy
shook his head.
"I've got
an old uncle who's more or less rolling, but he's no good."
"Why not?"
"Wanted to
adopt me once. I refused."
"I think I
remember hearing about it," said Tuppence slowly. "You refused
because of your mother——"
Tommy flushed.
"Yes, it
would have been a bit rough on the mater. As you know, I was all she had. Old
boy hated her—wanted to get me away from her. Just a bit of malice."
"Your
mother's dead, isn't she?" said Tuppence gently.
Tommy nodded.
Tuppence's large
grey eyes looked sentimental.
"You're a
good sort, Tommy. I always knew it."
"Rot!"
said Tommy hastily. "Well, that's my position. I'm just about
desperate."
"So am I!
I've hung out as long as I could. I've solicited round. I've answered
advertisements. I've tried every mortal blessed thing. I've screwed and saved
and pinched! But it's no good. I shall have to go home!"
"Don't you
want to?"
"Of course
I don't want to! What's the good of being sentimental? Father's a dear—I'm
awfully fond of him—but you've no idea how I worry him! He has that delightful
early Victorian view that short skirts and smoking are immoral. You can imagine
what a thorn in the flesh I am to him! He just gave a sigh of relief when the
war took me off. You see, there are seven of us at home. It's awful! All
housework and mothers' meetings! I have always been the simple. I don't want to
go back, but—oh, Tommy, what else is there to do?"
Tommy shook his
head sadly. There was a silence, and then Tuppence burst out:
"Money,
money, money! I think about money morning, noon and night! I dare say it's
mercenary of me, but there it is!"
"Same
here," agreed Tommy with feeling.
"I've
thought over every imaginable way of getting it too," continued Tuppence.
"There are only three! To be left it, to marry it, or to make it. First is
ruled out. I haven't got any rich elderly relatives. Any relatives I have are in
homes for decayed gentlewomen! I always help old ladies over crossings, and
pick up parcels for old gentlemen, in case they should turn out to be eccentric
millionaires. But not one of them has ever asked me my name—and quite a lot
never said 'Thank you.'"… (adapted in easier English)
Vocabulary
Land girl: (Agriculture)
a girl or woman who does farm work, esp in wartime.
Demobbed:
demobilized (armed forces).
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